By Staff
Special to The Star
March 23, 2001
William Howard Koon II of Illinois, Right Eminent Grand Captain General of Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America, will be the official representative of the Most Eminent Grand Master William Jackson Jones at the 140th Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Mississippi.
The meeting will be held today and Saturday at Howard Johnson Lodge.
Grand Commander Gordon B. Nanney of Hattiesburg will preside over the sessions. Other Masonic leaders in attendance include: Homer E. Sullivan Jr. of Hattiesburg, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter RAM of Mississippi; Charles F. Huckaby of Banner, Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council R&SM of Mississippi; and Glen Dale Brady of Carriere, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi F&AM. Fred F. Bean serves as Grand Recorder of the local Grand Commandery KT of Mississippi, located in Meridian.
The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America is a sovereign national body with jurisdiction over all grand, constituent and subordinate commanderies in the United States. Templary is a branch of Masonry, with its foundations in the New Testament. There are 250,000 members in 50 Grand Commanderies.
This organization has two major outreaches. The Knights Templar Eye Foundation provides surgical treatment and hospitalization for people who are blind, or whose sight is impaired, and who cannot afford to pay. The Knights Templar Eye Foundation is supported by a yearly assessment of each Knight Templar, plus special contributions, life sponsorships and other forms of income.
The Knights Templar Educational Foundation was established in 1922. Its purpose is to make deferred-payment, low-interest loans available to deserving students during their final two years of college.
For more information on the Mississippi branch of Masons, call Fred Bean at 482-2914.